“The broadness of this class has the potential to include thousands or tens of thousands of health care workers across Ontario,” the group said. “It includes unionized healthcare workers that were fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. It includes unionized workers that remained employed, were placed on leave, terminated, resigned, or took early retirement due to the issuance of Directive 6.”

The group has retained Sheikh Law to represent the plaintiff and potential class action members. Headquartered in Victoria, B.C., it also has offices in Ontario. The law firm already represents several different employment sectors sharing similar concerns, UHCWO said.

If the endeavour is successful, it has the potential to create a precedent for resolving workplace policy complaints implemented during the pandemic, the group said.